Homicide rate, WHO vs. UNODC in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Homicide rate, WHO vs. UNODC was 3.31 homicides per 100,000 population in 2019. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2019)
3.31 homicides per 100,000 population
Change on year
up 43.3%
World rank
80th
of 179 countries
All-time high
12.14 homicides per 100,000 population
in 1990
All-time low
2.2 homicides per 100,000 population
in 2017
Years of data
19
1990–2019
Homicide rate, WHO vs. UNODC in Sri Lanka, 1990–2019
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024); United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in homicides per 100,000 population.
Analysis
In 2019, homicide rate, who vs. unodc in Sri Lanka stood at 3.31 homicides per 100,000 population.
The figure is up 43.3% on the previous year and down 37.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, homicide rate, who vs. unodc in Sri Lanka peaked at 12.14 homicides per 100,000 population in 1990 and was at its lowest, 2.2 homicides per 100,000 population, in 2017.
That places Sri Lanka 80th out of 179 countries with data for 2019, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Homicide rate, WHO vs. UNODC in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | homicides per 100,000 population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 12.14 homicides per 100,000 population | — |
| 1995 | 9.19 homicides per 100,000 population | -24.3% |
| 1996 | 9.91 homicides per 100,000 population | +7.9% |
| 1997 | 10.14 homicides per 100,000 population | +2.3% |
| 1999 | 10.13 homicides per 100,000 population | -0.1% |
| 2005 | 6.03 homicides per 100,000 population | -40.5% |
| 2006 | 10.04 homicides per 100,000 population | +66.6% |
| 2008 | 9.7 homicides per 100,000 population | -3.4% |
| 2009 | 5.29 homicides per 100,000 population | -45.4% |
| 2010 | 3.65 homicides per 100,000 population | -31.0% |
| 2011 | 3.48 homicides per 100,000 population | -4.7% |
| 2012 | 3.19 homicides per 100,000 population | -8.3% |
| 2013 | 2.9 homicides per 100,000 population | -9.2% |
| 2014 | 2.57 homicides per 100,000 population | -11.4% |
| 2015 | 2.24 homicides per 100,000 population | -12.7% |
| 2016 | 2.42 homicides per 100,000 population | +7.9% |
| 2017 | 2.2 homicides per 100,000 population | -9.0% |
| 2018 | 2.31 homicides per 100,000 population | +5.0% |
| 2019 | 3.31 homicides per 100,000 population | +43.3% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 3.31 homicides per 100,000 population is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 4.06 homicides per 100,000 population, 82% of the median. (52 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 3.31 homicides per 100,000 population is above the median for South Asia, which is 2.4 homicides per 100,000 population, 1.4× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 10.3 homicides per 100,000 population | 9.19 homicides per 100,000 population | 12.14 homicides per 100,000 population | 5 |
| 2000s | 7.77 homicides per 100,000 population | 5.29 homicides per 100,000 population | 10.04 homicides per 100,000 population | 4 |
| 2010s | 2.83 homicides per 100,000 population | 2.2 homicides per 100,000 population | 3.65 homicides per 100,000 population | 10 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
- 77 Solomon Islands 3.73 homicides per 100,000 population compare
- 78 Rwanda 3.61 homicides per 100,000 population compare
- 79 Mozambique 3.59 homicides per 100,000 population compare
- 81 Sao Tome and Principe 3.23 homicides per 100,000 population compare
- 82 Turkey 3.23 homicides per 100,000 population compare
- 83 Liberia 3.09 homicides per 100,000 population compare
More social development data for Sri Lanka
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 213 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 148,369 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 3 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 3 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0068 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 148,369 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is homicide rate, who vs. unodc in Sri Lanka?
- Homicide rate, who vs. unodc in Sri Lanka was 3.31 homicides per 100,000 population in 2019, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024); United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest homicide rate, who vs. unodc recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 12.14 homicides per 100,000 population in 1990.
- What is the lowest homicide rate, who vs. unodc recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.2 homicides per 100,000 population in 2017.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for homicide rate, who vs. unodc?
- Sri Lanka ranks 80th out of 179 countries with data for 2019.
- Is homicide rate, who vs. unodc rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 37.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sri Lanka data come from?
- The figures come from UN, World Population Prospects (2024); United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Homicide rate, WHO vs. UNODC. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Intentional homicide rate per 100,000 population.